Archdiocese publicizes deadline for sex abuse claims

Published: 2005-01-31

PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) -- In mid-January the Portland Archdiocese began publicizing the court-ordered April 29 deadline for legal action by anyone claiming past sexual abuse by church personnel in the archdiocese. "You may have a claim against the Archdiocese of Portland," reads the notice, sent out in more than 90,000 letters across the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere and published in local and national newspapers. "You must act now to preserve your rights if, while you were under the age of 18, you had sexual contact with or were sexually touched by a Catholic priest, employee, volunteer or other person working for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon or for a Catholic parish/school served by the archdiocese." In another development, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris appointed five mediators -- three judges and two attorneys -- to attempt to settle the 60-plus damage claims for clergy sexual abuse that were frozen last July when the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy protection. The mediators are to begin their work in August.

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